Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler leads former U.S. Rep. Bob Franks 54 - 39 percent
among likely Republican primary voters in the New Jersey governor's race, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today. Among all registered Republican voters, the race is tied at 37 percent each.

In a May 10 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University, Franks led Schundler
among registered Republican voters 46 - 24 percent, with 28 percent undecided. But among
conservative Republican voters, a key voting bloc, Franks' lead dropped to a statistical 38 - 33 percent tie.

From June 14 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,408 New Jersey registered
Republican voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent. The survey included 415 likely Republican primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percent.

"This Republican primary is a real barn-burner. It all comes down to turnout. A light turnout, dominated by hard-core conservative Republicans, favors Mayor Schundler," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But this is New Jersey. It's a politically volatile state whose voters have a habit of making up their minds the night before the polls open, or even later."

While Republican likely voters back Schundler, 55 percent expect Franks to win the
primary, while only 25 percent expect Schundler to win.

In this voter group, 38 percent say Franks is too liberal, while 5 percent say he is too conservative and 49 percent say he is "about right."

By a 53 - 12 percent margin New Jersey Republican likely voters have a favorable
opinion of Schundler, with 21 percent mixed and 13 percent who don't know enough to form
an opinion.

Franks gets a 44 - 21 percent favorability, with 30 percent mixed and 4 percent who
haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Cutting taxes is "very important," 50 percent of Republican likely voters say, while 36 percent say it is "somewhat important" and 13 percent say it is "not very important."

If Schundler is elected, taxes will go up, 24 percent of Republican likely voters say, while 27 percent say taxes will go down and 40 percent say they will stay the same.
Taxes will go up under Franks, 34 percent of voters say, while 6 percent say they will go
down and 52 percent say they will remain the same.

"The candidates have hammered each other on the issue of taxes, and Republican
likely voters say tax-cutting counts. Schundler comes out ahead on this issue," Carroll said.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for
research.

6. (If Franks or Schundler Q4) Would you describe your support for
(Candidate Q4) as strongly favoring him, or do you like (Candidate Q4) but
with reservations, or do you support (Candidate Q4) because you dislike the
other candidate?

28. How important is it to you that the candidate that you vote for in
the Republican primary for Governor be supported by your local party
organization? Very important, somewhat important, or not too important?